Leander - Bad Romance (metal cover)

I must admit, that I like most of the Lady Gaga tracks. There, I've said it! I'm not going to justify this, it was hard enough for me to admit it. 

Anyway, she inspired hundreds of musicians to cover her songs, more or less in a terrible way. You've probably heard many of those and still revert to the original. Can't blame you. However, there is one that most likely beats the original.
I'm not sure how I discovered this one. but I get back to it again and again. Not only that it re-frames a perfect "earbug approved" song to metal, it was made in Hungary.

Leander Köteles - singer, songwriter, lyricist, keys & bass

Attila Vörös (Nevermore) - guitarist, songwriter

Jozzy - guitarist, co-songwriter

Bela Budai - drummer

A new wave of Hungarian metal is coming and its name is Leander. Based in the grand capital city of Budapest, the band originally started in 2009 as a solo project for its namesake Leander Köteles, whose first video for the song Bound To Belong created an internet buzz throughout Hungary.

Upon hearing about the video Attila Vörös, a young and well-known guitarist, who has also toured worldwide with Seattle metal band Nevermore, reached out to Leander via e-mail. In the beginning Attila only came on to do some guest solos for Leander, adding his guitar skills to the songs "Viharom Tavaszom" / "My Storm," "My Spring" and "Ördög Naplója" / "Devil's Diary." But as time went on they found their true sound was together. Their collaboration began with a recording of their version of a Hungarian classic song, "Szomorú Vasárnap" / "Gloomy Sunday" which was originally written by Rezső Seress. The two also recorded a unique version of Rihanna's "Only Girly," which helped to garner them some additional internet attention. The first original track the two were co-conspirators on was the song "Szívidomár" / "Heart Tamer," a blend of brutal riffs and punishing breakdowns that are coupled with huge anthemic and driving melodies, which will be a focal point of their self- titled debut release LEANDER, out digitally in June.

While Attila was touring in the US with Nevermore, Leander decided to cover and put his spin on Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance," which became the most viewed and successful video in he project's history at that time, incorporating Hungarian Dances from Brahms, his version will be the special bonus track on the upcoming US release.

In September of 2010 after Leander and Attila played a sold-out show in the capital city, with nearly 600 people in a club that was designed to hold only 150, they decided it was time to take their duo and form a full band. The two joined forces with guitarist József 'Jozzy' Takács (Wendigo/String Theory) and drummer Márk Maczák, they deemed themselves LEANDER and set out on a debut mini tour in March of 2011, where they played to sold out and at capacity crowds.

Soon after the drummer, Márk Maczák decided to leave the band to focus on his studies. He was replaced by Béla Budai who'd been playing with Attila Vörös in a Pantera tribute band, called Vulgar Display of Cover. Fortunately the change in line-up did not affect on the band's growing success which was shown by all the sold-out gigs and highly successful festival shows.

In July, 2011 the band was signed to Sony Music. Their 14 song self-titled debut album heads straight for the adrenal gland but still focuses on melody along with the fury. Recorded in Hungary and mixed and mastered in Sweden by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Amon Amarth, God Forbid, Katatonia, Soilwork, Kreator), with artwork by Robert Borbas (Metallica, Suicide Silence, Bring Me The Horizon) and a guest appearance by Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore) on the track Six Feet Under. LEANDER is sure to take American by storm.

And this is all just the beginning... rest assured the dichotomy within their sound will gain them fans across the metal, hardcore and rock scenes as well as the ability to bring both sexes together in the pit.

Within Temptation - Forsaken

Around 2005, I was hanging out at a friend's place. As far as I can remember we were preparing for a serious night out, as we usually do. The story of us meeting deserves another post, I'll save that up for later. What really matters now is that we started talking about music, and she found out that I haven't heard of Within Temptation before. This changed a minute after as I fell in love with this tune, and Sharon den Adele's voice. 

Little did I know that several years later I will meet a Hungarian guy in San Francisco, who turned out to love this genre, and trance as much as I do too. Sometimes you just get reminded that you are not alone in the world and no matter how eclectic your taste seems.

Epica - Fools of Damnation

Photo by: @_Nec

I believe I learnt about Epica from last.fm, and got addicted to the music right away. I've listened to this particular album over and over for a disturbingly long period of time. If you ask me to choose a song from this release, I'd say Fools of Damnation, but can't really tell you why. 

I have several memories connected to this track, from night photo shootings, through skiing, all the way to several live concerts. I chose the one I am actually able to show you. :)

Epica played in Budapest many times since I've noticed them, but I always managed to skip them for some reason or the other. This one time in San Francisco, when I was browsing my favourite club (DNA Lounge)'s monthly calendar, something hit me in the face. EPICA, on  the 5th of December, 2010. I couldn't believe my eyes, that I actually get to see them at that particular joint. Luckily some co-workers and friends around me were feeling the same way, so we bought the tickets and headed out to the gig. The organizers told us that Epica starts at 9, and we should get there by 6.